Richland One's Kirton to Receive FBI Community Award

A leader in Richland One will receive the S.C. FBI Director's Community Leadership Award on Wednesday evening.

Robert L. Kirton, executive director of schools in Richland County District One and the executive director of the Richland One Middle College, will be presented the award by David Thomas, special agent in charge.

Kirton is also the CEO and co-founder of Black Achievers Determined to be Different and an adjunct professor at S.C. State University.

BADD is an interactive “challenge” program for black males in grades K-12. This program incorporates a "brotherhood concept to motivate, inspire, and challenge a team of black males to become self-confident, self-actualized young men," according to a news release from the FBI.

The program is "committed to becoming a nationwide movement that will reverse the debilitating statistics that plague our black male and empower our young men for success while inspiring our population at-large," the release states.

Since 1990, the “Director’s Award for Community Leadership” has been a principle means for the FBI to publicly recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations who make extraordinary contributions to crime and violence prevention and education to their communities, according to the release.